Page 61 of The Love Raffle

The murmurs of the audience came back in full force. Their questions returned, along with remarks. These peopledidlie to them. They played with their hearts. Why should they accept this sob story and move on? In their minds, celebrities always lie.

“Jeff man, come on,” said Levi through hisses. Was he here to help them or ruin things?

Jeff shrugged indifferently. He tapped the edge of his cue cards on his desk. “What do you have to say about lying?”

“Oh, for the love of—” Fiona got up, fixing her dress, which had ridden up from sitting. “Fans of Captain Evolution, did you have fun shipping me and Levi?” She spread her arms in wait of an answer.

Some far away yesses flew in from the back, but many took to standing, shouting their disapproval. A particularly large man with a fan-made Levi-Fiona T-shirt yelled across the studio. “Don’t try to change the subject!” he said.

Jeff hid his mouth with his cue cards, giggling in private.

Amber had a hunch he was enjoying this. She just knew it! “Okay, yes, your hearts are broken but the truth is the truth.” She tried to speak over the noise but the buzz was too loud.

“Yes. So sorry to break your hearts but it is what it is. Levi and I are still very good friends, okay? Oh, and FYI, I’m engaged!” Fiona lifted her hand to reveal the ring.

That same large fellow staggered back, falling to his seat with the increase in fanfare. “You said it was a friendship ring!” The betrayal was evident in the wail that followed. “Liars!”

Levi and Amber sat there while Fiona continued to show off her ring and Jeff poorly concealed his laughter. The two exchanged quiet glances and tightened their hold on one another. What could they do? For now, things were chaotic, but maybe with time they would subside.

In the end, security came to escort the guests backstage, and Jeff Sullivan brought the interview to a close. Fans continued barking their fury until they were asked to step out. On televisions across the globe, the broadcast had ended. Whether it served its purpose or aggravated fans further, only time would tell.

Chapter 18

Amber had never stepped foot on Levi’s terrace before. The view was spectacular—a sprawling cityscape glowing under the fiery hues of a setting sun. The air carried a faint coolness, brushing against her skin and blending with the scent of fresh flowers from a nearby planter. She found herself marveling at how peaceful it was up here, so removed from the chaos below.

“It’s sparkling red wine. I hope that’s okay?” Levi asked, the gentle clink of glass punctuating his words as he poured her drink.

“It’s fine,” Amber replied, watching the liquid fizz and dance in her champagne glass. The sun’s rays caught the wine, giving it a jewel-like glow. She rested her hip against the iron railing, feeling its cool solidity. Levi set the bottle down on a sleek circular glass table nearby. His terrace boasted polished wooden floors and wrought iron furniture with plush cushions in muted tones, exuding understated luxury.

“That was…pretty intense, wasn’t it?” Levi said, leaning against the railing beside her. He held his drink casually, the glass swaying slightly over the ten-story drop to the busy sidewalk below.

Amber exhaled a long sigh, swirling her wine. “Yeah,” she murmured, savoring the solitude. It was just the two of them now, high above the noise, the criticism, and the relentless mayhem. After the whirlwind of the interview, Rachel hadlaunched into another round of plans for salvaging their public image. Amber had insisted they leave it alone, and Levi had agreed without hesitation. That moment of unity had been a rare comfort. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this tired,” she admitted, mimicking his stance with her glass poised over the city.

Levi’s gaze followed a street performer on roller skates below, weaving expertly through a small crowd. The performer’s audience cheered with delight. Levi smiled faintly. “You get used to it,” he said, his voice tinged with exhaustion. “Though this was my first time addressing a scandal. It definitely took more out of me than I expected.” He’d loosened his shirt after the interview, leaving the top four buttons undone. His suit jacket rested on the arm of the couch inside, abandoned in favor of comfort.

Amber glanced at him, her lips curving into a small smile. “Is it bad that I don’t care anymore? About the scandal, I mean.”

Levi gave a soft chuckle, tilting his glass to catch the last golden rays of sunlight. “No, of course not. Who really cares, right?”

She studied his profile, marveling at how effortlessly handsome he was. “Well, clearly the fans do, or we wouldn’t have had to address this whole thing. What about your image? Are you worried at all now?”

Levi’s lips twitched upward. “You know how I feel about that. It’s not like they can fire me as Captain Evolution. I’ve got five more movies to go.” He turned to her, his hair ruffling in the breeze. “And you’re going to be in them.”

Amber raised an eyebrow, her smile growing. “Hey, I signed up for one cameo,” she reminded him.

He rolled his eyes in mock exasperation, leaning back against the railing. “Sure, sure.”

Amber’s gaze softened as she took a sip of her wine. “I hope this doesn’t damage anything for the movie,” she admitted. Her voice grew quieter. “I still can’t believe you came to my setwith roses and chocolates. So cheesy.” Despite her teasing, the memory made her grin.

Levi drained his glass, setting it on the table with a satisfying clink. “What happened, happened. I’m just glad we’re still together.” He placed his hands on his hips, his tone light yet firm. “Something I’ve learned in this industry is that people forget. Time passes, wounds heal, and soon enough, fans are looking back and laughing at stuff like this.” He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face before cupping her cheek. “I think it’ll all be fine eventually.”

Amber leaned into his touch, her eyes half closing as his presence soothed her. “Okay,” she said softly. “As long as we’re together, things will work out.” Her voice grew steadier. “Thanks for everything. My first big role, this whole crazy scandal… It’s overwhelming, but kind of fun, too. Not so much for us, maybe, but for the fans.” She laughed lightly. “I still can’t believe I have fans now. Maybe more haters than fans, but whatever, right? Like you said, it’ll work out.”

Levi smiled down at her, his blue eyes glinting with mischief and affection. “Exactly right.” He tilted his head, his lips brushing hers in a soft, lingering kiss. Amber melted into it, her heart lifting as if the weight of the world had finally begun to ease.

When they pulled apart, the city lights had begun to twinkle below, and the first stars peeked through the deepening twilight. Levi’s voice was warm and steady as he murmured, “We’ve got the world at our feet, Amber. Let’s make it ours.”

Epilogue

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